Taking up wear in structural members



May 2l, 1929. E. PACY TAKING UP WEAR 1N STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Jan. 15,' 1928 INVENTR E I: ,l fg

ous other applications.

Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE.

ERNEST PACY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAKING UP IN STRUCTURAL MEMBERSL Application led January 1 `Bridgesl employing links having eyes at the ends, which eyes are engaged by' pins, become loose and rattle after a period of time, due to wear of the eyes of the links or on the ins passing through these eyes. The

the screw thread member the'present preferre life o ,the structure can be materially lengthened if this wear can be taken up.

I provide for connecting a screw thread device to the member atspaced points, tight- 15 ening the screw thread members so as to test'theconnections and vthen severing the structural mem er Abetween the connections. Preferably the screw thread device is con-` nected to the member b welding.- After lias been tightened so as to test the connections, the member may `be sievered, asvby a cutting torch, and tightene In the accompanyin drawing illustrating embodiment of my invention and one modification thereof, l

Figure 1 'is a side elevation of a take-up connection,

the lme II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 2 is a'transverse sectlon taken on.

l Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure v 1, but showing a modified construction, and Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 'IV-IV of-Fig'ure 3.

Figure 1 shows a structural member 2, one of whose ends, comprising an eye 3, is illustrated.- When it is desired to take up wear at the e es A3, orto com 'ensat'e ,for

stretching of t e structural mem er, spaced 40 plates 4 and 4 are welded'thereto, as indiplates 4 and 4*.

cated at 5. Screw thread devices 'each compising a right-handed screw thread memr 6, a left anded screw thread member 7 and a turn-buckle 8 are then welded to the The turn-buckles 8 are then tightened so as to put the screw thread members under strain, thus testing the welded connections. The structural. member 1 2 is then severed, as by a cutting torch, as

indicated at 9. The entire load is then I li` structural members and alsdto the screw 3, 1928. serial No. 246,505..

of the jonasand thus provide additional security.

Figures 3 and 4 show a modified structure. The arrangement shown inI Figures. 1

- and 2 is particularly useful since the vdevice lies very close to thefplane of the structural member, and structural memberslying side' more room. It comprises brackets 11 which are welded to the structural member 2' as indicated at 12. Bolts` 13 and 14, which arey threaded respectively right-handed and left# handed, pass through openings din the brackets 11 and are engaged by turn-buckles 15. After the turn-buckles have been tightened up so as td test the Welds, the structural member is severed as at'16.

The arrangement shown provides a convenient and very satisfactory means of tak-l ing up slack in structural members whereby the life of the structure may be materially lengthened.. I have illustrated the present preferred embodiment of my invention and one modification thereof, but it is not limited to' these forms, as it may be otherwise embodied'or practicedl within the scope of the following claims.

1. The method of takin up slack in structural'members, which inc udes connecting a screw thread device to the member at spaced points, tightening the screw thread device s o as to test its connections', and then severing the structural member between the connections. v

2. {Ihe method of taking up slack in structural members which includes welding a screw thread device to the member at aced points, tightening the screw thread device so as to test the welds, and then severing the 3.- The method of taking-.up slack in structural members whichincluds welding a` screw thread device to the member at spaced points, tightening the screw thread device so as t0 test the welds, severing the struc? tural members, and welding a reinforcing member overthe connections so as to additionally secure the same.

4. The method of taking up slack-in structural menibers which includes wellding a `screw thread device to the-member at'spacedpoints, tightening the screw thread device thread devices, so as to increase the strength .so Aas to test the welds, severing the struc- `rtural member, welding a reinforcing member over the connections so as to' additionally secure the same, and reinforcing the connections by additional welding.

5. The method oi taking up slack in structural members which includes connecting screw thread devices to the member on opposite sides thereof and at spaced points, sev

ering the structural member between the connections, and adjusting the screw thread members.

6. The method of taking up slack in structural members which includesconnecting a screw thread device to the member at spaced points, severing the structural member between the connections, and adjusting the screw thread device.

7. The method of taking up slack in structural members which includes welding a screw thread device to the member at spaced points, severing the structural member between the connections, and then adjusting the screw ,thread member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST PACY. 

